Best restoration guide?

[kylewhunt1]

What is the best restoration guide for re-doing a 1970 Barracuda?

[mopardave]

are you doing the restoration your self or having a shop do it?

[kylewhunt1]

I can do everything but paint. In about 9 years when I retire from the Air Force I will begin this venture. It will need new quarters, floors and pretty much every part replaced. It looks really good now so I am in no hurry. I just need a guide for the dismantle and re-assembly. I plan a lot of things out well ahead of time before I start anything. I have already been buying parts from Year One and putting them back. It has the 383 but I am thinking about putting a 5.7 Hemi and drivetrain in it for a little retro resto, if I can find a salvaged Ram, Charger etc.

[challenger6pak2]

The original factory service manual is great to have whether you are doing the restoration or not. It is available on a CD-Rom. I personally don't know of a good book that covers everything.

[72hemi]

I've done several e body restorations and when I did the first one I went out and bought every book that I could find and the most useful was the factory service manual and the original parts book.

[70_challenger]

The factory service manual (FSM) and cuda-challenger.com

There are several restoration books for E-bodies out there, and all of them contain errors (I have one by Paul Herd, called 'Challenger and Barracuda Restoration Guide').  Depending on how 'correct' you want to do your restoration, they may be OK...You mentioned possibly using a 5.7, so I assume this is not a 'numbers' resto. 

But you will find yourself using the FSM more than any of them.  And you're fortunate to have found this site before starting - The helpful folks around here are a wealth of information!

-Tom

[hezzel]

I've done several e body restorations and when I did the first one I went out and bought every book that I could find and the most useful was the factory service manual and the original parts book.

I have to agree the factory service manual is the best book

[ChallengerGary]

   The factory service manual is pretty much a MUST HAVE.  The other "restoration guides" I've seen do not go into any level of detail.  Basically they are nice history & picture books 

[kylewhunt1]

Just to make sure, is this the correct manual and should I expect to pay 60.00 bucks for it?

[challenger6pak2]

That one is correct. The price is right also. I have seen them go as high as $75. Sounds like a lot for a book. It is worth it for a restoration.

[kylewhunt1]

Thanks for all the help guys. Just be prepared to answer more questions. I will go ahead and order it today.

[challenger6pak2]

Fire away. We will gladly help.

[troutstreamnm]

Aside from the factory manual, the best manual is the one you write yourself.  Make a photo journal of EVERYTHING on the car before you start and as you take it apart.  Take pics of the most mundane things because they can be a great help when you are putting it back together after it's been apart for 2 or 3 years.  Also label everything (especially wiring and fasteners) and keep a restoration notebook.  If you do a good job, you'll have a lot fewer headaches putting the car back together.  I didn't do a great job myself and learned a lesson.  Thank goodness for all the great minds here at Cuda-Challenger.com to help out!!! 

[Fitz73Chrgr]

A good book to buy, although not specific to E-bodies, is "Project Charger".  The author shows the entire process of restoring his '70 Charger.  It has been very helpful and can give you ideas when you get stuck on something. 

[HemiOrange70]

The best guide is the members of this site